Director of Athletics John McCutcheon named John Micheletto as
the school’s new head coach of the men’s hockey team on
Monday. Micheletto, 46, has spent the last nine seasons at Vermont.
He made the jump from assistant to associate coach there in
2006.

"After our meetings with John and our consultations with those
in the college hockey community, we are thrilled to announce him as
our new head coach," said McCutcheon. "John brings a wealth of
coaching experience, is a talented recruiter, understands the
Hockey East Association, and certainly has a strong familiarity
with the UMass hockey program."

During his time at UVM, Micheletto coached or recruited 12
different players that were selected at the NHL Draft. In 2009, he
helped coach the Catamounts to an appearance in the Frozen Four.
Upon his promotion to associate coach in 2006, he became the
program’s director of recruiting.

"I am humbled to be the 13th head coach at the University of
Massachusetts," said Micheletto, who will call the shots for the
Minutemen after Cahoon’s 12-year run. "When I first started
coaching in 1991, I never fathomed that my first head coaching job
would come at such a highly-regarded hockey program as UMass."

Prior to joining Vermont’s staff, Micheletto was an
assistant coach at Notre Dame from 1999-2003. He held the same
position for Union College from 1996-99.

"The University of Massachusetts got a good man today,”
Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna said. “I've known John
since the days when we were both in the ECAC. He is a quality
person with an extensive hockey background. He will do great things
in Amherst."